M4 relief road: £1m spent on two houses weeks before axe

The M4 Relief Road was designed to replace the stretch of motorway in Newport

A million pounds of taxpayers' cash was spent on two properties affected by the M4 relief road route just weeks before the scheme was axed.

Since 1995 more than £15m has been spent on the compulsory purchase of 29 properties affected by the scheme to relieve congestion around Newport.

Fourteen remain vacant. One house was bought 13 days before Welsh ministers decided the scheme was too costly.

The Welsh Government said many will be sold when market conditions are right.

It said it is require by law to purchase properties that meet certain criteria - which both properties did.

Two houses in the Coedkernew district of south west Newport were bought by the Welsh Government in April 2019.

The first purchase, for £575,000, was made on 9 April, while the second, for £462,162, was bought on 16 April, according to the Land Registry.

On 29 April, the Welsh Government cabinet decided in a meeting that the cost of the road project was not acceptable.

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No announcement was made until 4 June - about two months after the purchase - when First Minister Mark Drakeford revealed that the scheme would be axed on cost and environmental grounds.

The Welsh Conservatives said it suggested a "shambolic decision-making process within the heart of the Welsh Government".

Russell George, the party's economy spokesman, said: "The Welsh Labour-run Government has, once again, expected the taxpayer to pick up the tab for the vast sums of money spent on a project it later sank."

The M4 Relief Road was designed to reduce congestion around the Brynglas tunnels

In response to a Welsh Conservative Freedom of Information request, the Welsh Government said: "We are unable to tenant some properties due to their current condition, however where possible, these properties will be brought up to standard and advertised for rent this financial year."

Seven of the 29 properties bought over the last 25 years have been sold for around £2.1m and eight have been rented out so far.

Six of the 29 properties were purchased prior to devolution in 1999.

Mr George said millions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been "frittered away, and worse still there is nothing to show for it".

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "Many of these are assets with value that will be disposed of when market conditions are right.

"Land and buildings purchased before devolution would have been under the authority of the Wales Office as part of the UK government."

The Welsh Government later added: "The purchase of properties is guided by legislation. We are bound to acquire properties that meet the relevant criteria and at both the point of application and point of purchase, the two properties referred to fulfilled the criteria."